Sombre mood in Umlalazi after man allegedly shot by security guard
Lerato Xulu weeps as she explains how her brother, Siphamandla, dreamt of building a house for their mother. “He promised me,” she says through her tears.
Siphamandla, 30, was shot and killed on Tuesday, allegedly by a security guard who had caught him fishing at a dam on a private farm just outside eShowe, in Zululand.
His death sparked a public outcry, with irate community members from Umlalazi, where Siphamandla lived, marching through the area on Wednesday.
Roads were barricaded, hundreds of acres of sugarcane set alight and farm buildings torched.
NOW READ: Police continue to monitor eShowe following violent protests
There is a sombre mood at the young man's home.
His female relatives are huddled in a dark room, quietly holding vigil.
The family only learnt of Siphamandla's death on Wednesday evening, says Lerato.
He had left home with friends on Tuesday and only realised on Wednesday morning that he had not returned.
They spent the larger part of the day trying to track him down and then Lerato’s father received a phone call from police, telling him to go to the mortuary.
“We were shocked,” said Lerato.
“The pain...” her voice trails off and she takes a moment to collect herself.
“I cannot describe the pain we, as a family, are feeling. We feel dead,” she says, “He was my only brother”.
A builder by trade, Lerato says Siphamandla was not an aggressive person.
“My brother was a quiet guy,” she says, “He had big dreams - huge. And he loved his parents so much”.
The family plans to bury him next week.
Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sithole is calling for calm in the Umlalazi, eShowe and surrounding areas. Sithole says the man who allegedly shot Xulu has been arrested and remains in police custody.
The National Police Commissioner is urging community members to allow the law to take its course.
Local police, members of Public Order Police Unit and a Tactical Response Team have been mobilised to the area to normalise the situation.
Sithole said in a statement that destroying property is not a solution to any problem.
"Rather it is a crime [that] is punishable by law," he said.
Sithole says provincial officers have been tasked with investigating the burning of the farms and bring those responsible to book.
His death sparked a public outcry, with irate community members from Umlalazi, where Siphamandla lived, marching through the area on Wednesday.
Roads were barricaded, hundreds of acres of sugarcane set alight and farm buildings torched.
NOW READ: Police continue to monitor eShowe following violent protests
There is a sombre mood at the young man's home.
His female relatives are huddled in a dark room, quietly holding vigil.
The family only learnt of Siphamandla's death on Wednesday evening, says Lerato.
He had left home with friends on Tuesday and only realised on Wednesday morning that he had not returned.
They spent the larger part of the day trying to track him down and then Lerato’s father received a phone call from police, telling him to go to the mortuary.
“We were shocked,” said Lerato.
“The pain...” her voice trails off and she takes a moment to collect herself.
“I cannot describe the pain we, as a family, are feeling. We feel dead,” she says, “He was my only brother”.
A builder by trade, Lerato says Siphamandla was not an aggressive person.
“My brother was a quiet guy,” she says, “He had big dreams - huge. And he loved his parents so much”.
The family plans to bury him next week.
Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sithole is calling for calm in the Umlalazi, eShowe and surrounding areas. Sithole says the man who allegedly shot Xulu has been arrested and remains in police custody.
The National Police Commissioner is urging community members to allow the law to take its course.
Local police, members of Public Order Police Unit and a Tactical Response Team have been mobilised to the area to normalise the situation.
Sithole said in a statement that destroying property is not a solution to any problem.
"Rather it is a crime [that] is punishable by law," he said.
Sithole says provincial officers have been tasked with investigating the burning of the farms and bring those responsible to book.